The Vancouver Canucks start their second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs tonight against Nashville and after a heated battle with Chicago, the team and the fans are certainly fired up.

After a few suggestions on Twitter that I find a blogging counterpart in Nashville, I contacted Nashville Scene – a source for all things Nashville with news, reviews, food, and of course, music. A few quick emails later and we have a blogger battle.

Nashville Scene – Nashville Declares War on Vancouver, Sort of:
“This politely worded Canadian aggression will not stand. Yes, Miss 604, we accept your “friendly challenge.” The terms, agreed upon by our dueling partner in the godforsaken frozen North â€” OK, the lushly green, conifer-scented, beautifully landscaped North â€” are as follows: The blog from the winning team’s city will receive a hotly coveted, generously apportioned, lavishly assembled (yet small enough to sneak through Customs) package of goods from the losing city’s hometown.”

The Mayors of Vancouver and Nashville have a similar challenge, that was announced today as well: “If Vancouver wins best out of seven games, Mayor Dean will help Vancouver celebrate by sending a country ham and CDs representing the broad spectrum of Nashvilleâ€™s music scene to Mayor Robertson. If Nashville wins, Mayor Robertson has promised to send a Fraser River Sockeye Salmon along with a CD of Vancouverâ€™s musicians.”

Nashville Scene and I will be putting together prize packages featuring the best out cities have to offer (and whatever can fit in a shipping box). The winner will keep their prize pack and be shipped the prize put together by the losing city. So technically when the Canucks defeat the Predators I will be receiving a prize package from Nashville that I will be happily sharing with you all. It’s pretty much a win-win situation, except for when it comes to the action on the ice. So, before the puck drops tonight at Rogers Arena, I would like to call upon my readers for suggestions.

What should I include in a super Vancouver prize package? Some Raincoast Crisps? Mink Chocolates? Smoked Salmon? An autographed 8×10 glossy of Fin? A “Bike Lanes Make Me Hornby” t-shirt?

Best case scenario, the package never leaves my office. But, just in case, please leave your suggestions below or Tweet them to @Miss604 & @NashvilleScene using the tag #nashclash (per the @VanCanucks account).

Update May 9, 2011: The Canucks have defeated Nashville so I’m going to roll over the Vancouver prize pack to the next series. In the event that I do not need to send the package to the opposing team’s city, it will all be donated to KidSport.

Not being a Vancouverite myself, I may not know some of the more eclectic Vancouver must-haves. But I say this, I never leave the city without a handful or four of some of the fantastic microbrews available in the coast city. I’d have to think any of BC’s wines would greatly surpass the quality of even the finest of Tennessee’s moonshines (if not their effectiveness).

We support ya Miss604 all the way – add us to the team. As we make everything from scratch and our first choice is BC grown….we love our BC Granny Smith apple sorbetto….so we will donate to the cause 1 case of BC Granny Smith apples. If they come to Vancouver, we will treat them to gelato for 10 people at our shop.

Man, every online battle between sports rivals should be so civilized! If you’re ever in Nashville, we will have to continue this scorched-earth flame war on our front porch, with big glasses of iced tea.

At Save-On / Urban Fare, I saw a lovely tin of Roger’s Chocolates celebrating Vancouver’s 125th ($20). Maybe Roger’s Chocolates would donate one? Or maybe even Save-On (to make up for their putting US produce in the bins and not changing the BC-grown signs).

I lived in Vancouver for 2 years going to UBC. I miss the salmon jerkey more than anything other than the entire city of Vancouver! We have a lululemon here in Nashville now, so don’t send that. This is a great round, for whoever wins, I get to root for a team in the next round! OMG, and send Nanaimo bars. Nashville has a HUGE sweet tooth. Make Nashville send a Tennessee Tipsy Cake and t-shirts from all the honkey tonks downtown!

Definitely candied spicy salmon from the vendor at Granville Public Market. Some post cards of downtown from the Cambie/Granville bridges with the skyline at sunset. BC Ferries clam chowder? That should travel across North America as well as it down across the Strait of Georgia. Olympic mittens. Gold medal hockey souvenirs.

*All contests are open to residents of Canada only, unless otherwise stated. Contest timelines are published on each individual post along with entry methods. Some contests may only be open to those 19 years of age and older. Winners are announced on the contest blog posts. Contest policy »